Within the framework of the state visit to Vietnam, on the morning of November 29, President Luong Cuong and Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneat Norodom Sihamoni visited the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam and enjoyed precious Vietnamese tea.
According to VNA, introducing the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam complex to the King, the President said that this is a symbol of the thousand-year-old capital Hanoi, the first university of Vietnam, where 82 doctoral steles have been recognized by UNESCO as a global documentary heritage. This place also welcomed the retired King Norodom Sihanouk and the Queen Mother during their state visit to Vietnam in December 1995.
Here, President Luong Cuong and King Norodom Sihamoni were introduced by tea master Dao Duc Hieu about the Four Great Famous Suoi Giang Ancient Shan Tuyet Teas, the quintessential teas harvested and processed from hundreds of years old tea trees on the top of Suoi Giang in Van Chan district, Yen Bai province, which are covered in fog all year round. These are extremely rare teas in Vietnam. The two leaders were also introduced to the tea making techniques and tea drinking style of the Vietnamese people.
Enjoying black tea with the King, a rare tea with an elegant, gentle and refined taste, the President shared that the tea tree has always been closely associated with the life of the Vietnamese people. The Vietnamese tea-drinking custom has created an identity that people still call the "soul of Vietnamese tea", which has been passed down in the country's history through folk songs, proverbs, folk songs and immortal poems of cultural celebrities, including the saying: "Fine tea, a bitter taste to savor/Mountains and rivers, don’t forget their favor".
The President also discussed with the King the style and art of Vietnamese tea drinking with many diverse forms, from "drinking alone", "drinking with two people" to "drinking with many people". In particular, Vietnamese people choose to drink tea together to express their most sincere feelings towards their close friends, soul mates, confidants, discuss family and social matters together, review the past and strive for the best.
While drinking tea with the King, the President expressed his delight at seeing that the relationship between our two countries has continued to develop steadily over time; the trust and closeness between the leaders and people of the two countries has been increasingly consolidated and strengthened.
The President believes that, in his noble position, the King will continue to nurture that good relationship, and at the same time pay attention to supporting the extensive propaganda and education for all people, especially the young generation, to deeply understand the solidarity, unity and mutual sacrifice between the two countries and peoples, and continue to promote the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship.
The President also wished the King good health, to always be a tall tree, providing shade and to continue leading the Cambodian people to achieve even greater achievements in the cause of national construction and development.
Earlier that morning, King Norodom Sihamoni and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son visited Quan Su Pagoda - the most sacred ancient temple in Hanoi.
